I have now spent a few days here in Madrid. The truth is that it has been so much to process, because a few days ago I was in Mexico and a few days before that I was in Austin. I’m a little behind on what I wanted to write about even before traveling to Madrid, but now that I am a little more situated in the city I wanted to give y’all a little taste of what has happened to me over the past few weeks. If you want to keep reading this blog it will be over my experiences while I study abroad and my reaction to different experiences whether they are good or bad. You have been warned. Either way I hope that you like reading what I write and perhaps it may even be pleasant.

Leaving Michigan:

Like a lot of y’all know I study in Holland, Michigan, at a private school called Hope College, a name that I believe to be pretty poetic. If you didn’t know, now you know.

I have studied there for more than a year now. The truth is that I have liked living in a small town that is so different from the city I am from because it has allowed me to view the American lifestyle in another way. The truth is that American patriotism is much more prevalent in a small town than in the city. In America your political views are very prominent in your personality. In the U.S. there are two parties that dominate the country. This is a situation that is not as common in other countries. For example, in Mexico historically the PRI (a Mexican political party) has dominated most of the country’s government. The same happens in several countries. That is why many people in other countries have the same political stance, they really don’t care about politics. Most people in these countries consider their government as just corrupt and without morals. This is the reality for many countries. For this reason I think sometimes, although the political system isn’t perfect in the states, it’s a blessing to have at least two options. The only reason I bring this up is because I see this as a big difference between life in Austin and what I have experienced over a year and a half in Holland. It is also a topic that I want to explore while I am in Spain.

Returning to Austin:

Well, I got a bit off topic. Anyway I finished my final exam in Michigan on the 15th of December and I left with a buddy who lives in Detroit to stay the night, because my flight left very early the next morning.

Around noon Austin time I arrived to my beloved mom’s arms. We hugged it out and I kissed her on the cheek like I have done since the time I was very little. I arrived to see my brothers that I hadn’t seen in so long, and I was so happy to see the family that I had missed so much while I had been in college.

Christmas was celebrated with family like we typically do, all my uncles and us congregated at my uncle’s house on Christmas Eve. We drank a lot of ponche (Mexican drink), ate goat’s meat and had a very good time.

Likewise, New Year’s was spent in an awesome fashion with my family at our house like we have done for years. Everything was great upon returning to Austin, but the best part was that I was back with my family, that I love and missed so much while I was in Holland.